the hound’s tale newsletter september 2007 volume 54 ...they are called “agie tators. ... as it...

Rockhound Club News of the Arlington Gem and Mineral Club1408 Gibbins Road, Arlington, Texas 76011

The Hound’s Tale Newsletter September 2007

Volume 54, Issue 09, Sept. 2007

Inside This Issue

Discover Nature’s InnerBeauty . . . . . …………...1President’s Message . . . . 2Class schedule

September Calendar . . . 3Amethyst. . . . ……….... .4.Memories of a Rockhound . . . . . . . . . . . . . ….5Club Mission. . . . …... . . .6

Mas- cot ofthe Arlington Gem and Min-

eral Clubis an affiliate of

South Central Federationof Mineral Societies

American Federationof Mineralogical Societies

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

Sept—Tape from SCFM

October—Live Auction

November—Charles Finley

Club Notes by Dale Miller,

member

September ProgramTape from the SCFM

October ProgramOur annual Live Auction

November ProgramCharles Finley

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Just a Thought from your President for Juneby Rick Litsinger, President AGMC

. At the time of thiswriting we have just twoweeks before theshow. Karen had donea great job in puttingthe show together andRick Kupkie getting thedealer spacesfilled. Joyce Speed isorganizing the SCFMSmeetings and DaleMiller is getting theRolling Rock Club roll-ing as well. Now all weneed is our club mem-bers to volunteer tohelp at the show as wellas to talk up the showwith friends, neighborsand co-workers. Re-member, the show paysour taxes.

The new flooring hasbeen installed in theentrance way and the“break room.” My wife,Robin, and I removedthe old carpet tiles,cleaned the floor andput down the new floor-ing. It took three daysto do all the work but Ithink it will make the

area easier to maintain.

Sam Howeth and RayBatson have beensweating hard trying tokeep the grounds look-ing nice. Ray is ournew building managerand will need helpkeeping our wonderfulclubhouse in topshape.Pat Ross has volun-teered to take over themembership duties aswell as secretary. I ap-preciate her steppingup to the place to takeover this most impor-tant position.

The election committeewill be formed at theAugust board meet-ing. It is a little earlybut there are going tobe several board posi-tions including presi-dent, secretary, treas-urer and programsthat will need to befilled for next year. Sowhen asked to serveyour club in an official

capacity please give ityour strongest consid-eration.

“Leadership is practicednot so much in wordsas in attitude and in ac-tions.” Harold S.Geneen

Just a thoughtRick LitsingerPresident, AGMC

AGMCSeptember Class Schedule

By Pat Vaughan

Chainmaking OPEN2nd Saturday, September 8, 9 AM - NoonInstructor: Mary Owren

FacetingWednesdays, 7-9 PMBeginning September 12Instructosr: Frank Krystinik/Mike Knuth

Glass Fusing & EnamelingCLOSEDSunday, September 9, Noon - 4 PMSaturday, September 225, 9 AM – 1 PMInstructor: Becky Downey

Metal ClaySaturday, September 29, 10 AM – 2 PMInstructor: Colleen Fitzpatrick

SilversmithingInstructors: Sam Howeth/Rick Litsinger

Level 102 CLOSEDMondays 7-10 PM

Level 201 OPENWednesdays, 7-10 PMOpen to those that have completed 103

Level 301 OPENFridays 7-10 PMOpen to those that have completed 202

Silversmithing Lab OPEN3rd Saturday, September 15, 8 AM – Noon

Wax Carving LabThursdays 7-9 PM

There will be no Cab Class in September.

SOME PEOPLEARE LIKE POTATOES

Some people are very bossyand like to tell others what to do,but don’t want to soil their hands.They are called “Dick Tators.”

Some people never do anythingto help, but are gifted at findingfault with others work. They arecalled “Comment Tators.”

Some people are always look-ing to cause problems by askingothers to agree with them. It’s toohot, too cold, too sour, or too sweet.They are called “Agie Tators.”

There are those who say theywill, but don’t. Never around to ac-tually help. Call them”Hezzie Ta-tors.”

Some put on a front and pre-tend to be someone they’re not.“Ima Tators.”

Then there are those who loveto do what they say they will. Theyarte always prepared to stop what-ever they are doing and lend a help-ing hand. They bring real sunshineinto the live of others. They arecalled “Sweet Tators!”

Author Unknown via Rock-N-Rose 12/2000


SEPTEMBER 2007AGMC Classes and Meeting Schedule

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

150th Anniversary

ShowArlington

ConventionCenter

10:00am – 6:00pm

250th

AnniversaryShow

ArlingtonConv.Center

10:00am –5:00pm

3Silversmithing

102 FULL7 - 10 pm

4**RegularMeeting**7:30 PM

5Silversmithing

201 Open7 - 10 pm

6** LabOpen

~Wax

Carving LabOpen

7pm – 9pm

7Silversmithing

301 Open7 - 10 pm

8** Lab Open9am-Noon

~

**ChainmakingOpen 9 am – noon

9Glass Fusing &

EnamelingFULL

Noon – 4p

10Silversmithing

102 FULL7 - 10 pm

11 12Faceting Open

7-9 pm~

Silversmithing201 Open7 - 10 pm

13** LabOpen

~Wax

Carving LabOpen

7pm – 9pm

14Silversmithing

301 Open7 - 10 pm

**DEADLINEFOR OCTOBERNEWSLETTER

15Silversmithing Lab

Open8a – Noon

~

** Lab Open9am-Noon

16 17Silversmithing

102 FULL7 - 10 pm

18Free Tuesday

7-9pfor Members

19Faceting Open

7-9 pm~


20** LabOpen

~Wax

Carving LabOpen

7pm – 9pm

21Silversmithing

301 Open7 - 10 pm


~

Glass Fusing &Enameling

FULL 9am – 1pm

23 24Silversmithing

102 FULL7 - 10 pm

25 26Faceting Open

7-9 pm~


27** LabOpen

~Wax

Carving LabOpen

7pm – 9pm

28Silversmithing

301 Open7 - 10 pm


~

Metal ClayOpen

10am – 2 pm

30

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AGMC Hound’s Tale Advertising Rates

All ads are subject to approval by the AGMC executive board. Layout of the ad is included in price as long as all adcontent is included with the initial request. Digital artwork must be included with the initial request or the ad will becreated as text only. Ad requests must be received by the 2nd Thursday of each month for the following month’snewsletter by email at: [email protected]. Make payable to Arlington Gem & Mineral Club. Send paymentsto:Arlington Gem & Mineral ClubP.O. Box 986Arlington, TX 76004

For any questions regarding layout, please contact Paula Truitt at: [email protected] any questions regarding appropriate content, please contact Rick Litsinger at: [email protected].

DimensionsMembers Non-members

6 months 1 month 6 months 1 month

Full page 9.5” x 7.75” $120 $25 $240 $50

Half page (v) 9.5” x 3.75” $72 $15 $144 $30

Half page (h) 4.625” x 7.75” $72 $15 $144 $30

Qtr page (v) 4.625” x 3.75” $48 $10 $96 $20

Qtr page (h) 2.375” x 7.75” $48 $10 $96 $20

Biz Card (v) 2” x 3.5” $30 $6.25 $60 $12.50

Biz Card (h) 3.5” x 2” $30 $6.25 $60 $12.50

Size

AMETHYSTBy Jereme Dubhros

Amethyst gets its name from the Greek "amethustos" meaning sober or "not intoxicated", appropriate as the ability to protect theowner not only from strong drink but other toxins is a theme that occurs time and again with the legends concerning this stone. Ame-thyst is actually the purple variety of quartz, caused by impurities such as manganese. In addition to preventing poisoning, the ame-thyst in myth possesses a lesser know property, that being the ability to quill passions and cure madness. It is this calming effect thatprovides the merchant with shrewd business sense and restores a soldier's courage. This trait is also most probably what earned theamethyst a place on the finger of catholic bishops and the title "Bishop's Stone".

A beautiful Greek legend tells how the stone gained these properties, it goes as follows:Dionysus was annoyed at some slight he had received from a mortal, and vowed that the next mortal he came across would

be torn apart by tigers. As it happens, he came across Amethyst, a maiden pure of form and spirit, on her way to the temple of Diana.When the tigers set upon Amethyst she cried out to Diana for help. Hearing this Diana spared Amethyst from a most horrible fate byturning her to pure rock crystal. Upon seeing this miracle Dionysus poured a libation upon the frozen statue of Amethyst turning itpurple, and swore that whoever bore her likeness would forever be free from his wrath. Dionysus is the god of debauchery, wine, andmad revelry so it is from the darker aspects of these things that Amethyst is said to protect from.

Colors: Purple, from pale lilac to almost blackRegion: Brazil and Russia are prime deposits, though it is found worldwide.Composition: Si02, Quartz family.Hardness: 7


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MEMORIES OF AROCKHOUND

Greatfully submitted byAlec Gallia

INTRODUCTION

These papers were written more orless by accident. The program chairman ofone of the local gem and mineral clubsasked me to write an article about petrifiedwood for the club bulletin. Since the sub-ject was much too big for one article wedecided that I would write a series of arti-cles, each article about one species ofwood. As time passed I was surprised tolearn I enjoyed writing the articles, primar-ily because the memories connected withcollecting the material were so pleasant.

Since several members of the gemand mineral club assured me they enjoyedreading the articles I continued writingthem, eventually relating stories of rockcollecting of material other than petrifiedwood. Recalling these events and friendsand places of long ago has been stimulatingfor me. I can only hope the readers havehad some pleasure from my efforts.

These papers could just as wellhave been titled “Fifty Years of Rocking”,because this year (1992) represents fiftyyears since I picked up my first “keeper”out of Crowfoot Creek in southern Oregon.

Vernon M. Bryant

TEQUILA ON THE ROCKSBy Vernon M. Bryant

Sometimes a field trip does not turn out asplanned. It may take an unexpected turn forthe better or worse, usually the latter. Sincethis story puts me in a bad light I questionthe advisability of continuing it. However,I will continue because I know my readersare my friends, and they are a forgiving lot.

The trip started well enough. Mayplans were to fly from Dallas to Medford,

Oregon, and spend two weeks with a rock-hound friend hunting, cutting, and polish-ing rocks. However, I had met EddieLindberg and he had assured me that any-time I came to Deming, New Mexico, hewould take me to the thunder-egg and agatebeds. I had seen some of these eggs, andalso some of the blue and red agate, andthey were so beautiful I longed to go to thelocations. Therefore, I changed my plans.My new plans were to stop over in El Paso,take a bus to Deming and go rock hunting,then return to El Paso and continue theflight to Oregon.

The time between my arrival in ElPaso and the bus leaving for Deming wasshort, and as I entered the bus the onlyempty seat was beside what appeared to bea very friendly Mexican American. I gladlytook the seat next to him and opened amagazine to read. However, he would havenone of that, and started a conversation im-mediately. He then reached inside a paperbag and took out a bottle of tequila.

“Have a drink,” he offered, hold-ing the bottle in front of me. I was dumb-founded at the idea. I had never tasted te-quila, and the idea of drinking any alco-holic beverage on the bus was beyond myimagination.

“I can’t do that,” I replied. “Theywould kick us off the bus.”

“No way,” he countered. “I do itall the time. Nobody minds. Come on.You’ll like it.”

With that I slowly reconsidered,and change my mind. I figured I was onvacation in a part of the country where no-body knew me, and if we were kicked offthe bus it would be just an inconvenience,not the end of the world. So I took a swigof the hot, awful stuff, and we continued onour way, the jolliest bus ride I ever had.

He told me he was the janitor ofMesilla Public School, that the school wasopening the following week, and he hadcome to El Paso with his wife that morningto buy school clothes for the children.Their routine was for her to buy clothingand he to go over to Juarez and buy tequila.

“Where is your wife now?” I

asked.“Oh, I don’t know. She may still

be shopping, or she may be at home. Inever see her again once we get here. Wealways come together, but never go backtogether.”

The bus trip ended all too soon,with my new acquaintance getting off atMesilla, and with me going on to Deming.

At that time Eddie Lindberg’sshop was near an old hotel. After register-ing at the hotel I went to the shop, and weagreed to leave early the next morning forthe thunder-egg beds.

We did get an early start, and withsome moderately strenuous digging we un-covered several eggs up to ten inches indiameter.

We then went to the agate loca-tion. At the time there was a very famousrockhound in Deming by the name ofChale’ Adams, who appeared to be Indian.Anyway, she happened to be at the agatebeds, and did not hesitate to tell us how shefound so much good agate. She informedus that the first thing she did was to getdown on her knees and ask God to tell herwhere to dig, and she assured us He almostalways pointed out a good place. Since Idid not feel that I had such a good workingrelationship with God, and since I had justrecently misbehaved on the bus, I did notuse this method. Anyway, I felt that thisproblem was too trivial to ask God for help.As it turned out I found a couple of verynice pieces of agate anyway.

On returning to Deming we cutsome of my eggs, with pleasant results,showing the typical pink and lavender col-ors characteristic of eggs found in the earlydays. The two agates had the usual rich redand blue colors, and were excellent quality.

We then packed my treasures inboxes, and I took them with me to the air-port in El Paso. On reaching Oregon I pol-ished the best of the specimens, and someof them will be on display at the next meet-ing.

Please look for more stories from Dr Bry-ant in upcoming issues.

Dr. Vernon Bryant, a former member of the Oak Cliff Gem and Mineral Club and a dear friend of mine, was an ardent rockhound andover the years became a noted collector of beautiful specimens.

The following introductory page was taken from his booklet of articles written about his experience and adventures as arockhound.

Other articles will be included later in The Hound’s Tail Newsletter.Alec Gallia


Club Mission:The objectives of the Arlington Gem and Min-eral Club shall be to educate the public in thestudy of the earth sciences, lapidary arts, de-signer jewelry and all related fields.

Yearly Enrollmentrecommended donation:Initial Adult Enrollment $35.00

(includes $5.00 badge)Adult Renewals $30.00 per calendar

yearJunior Members $3.50 per calendar

year

Activities take place at:Arlington Gem and Mineral Club

1408 Gibbins Road, Arlington, TX 76011Phone 817-277-2286

Mailing Address:P.O. Box 986

Arlington, TX 76004

E-mail Address:[email protected] or

[email protected]

World Wide Web Home Page:http://www.agemclub.com

Business Meeting on 1st Tuesday at 7:30 PMBoard Meeting on the last Tuesday of eachmonth at 7 PM.

The Hound’s TalePublished monthly by the Arlington Gemand Mineral Club.Permission To ReprintPermission is granted for non-commercialreproduction provided the articles remainessentially intact and credit is given to theauthor and source.Ads and ArticlesLapidary-related ads and articles fromMembers of AGMC are welcomed. Theywill be placed on a space-available basis,first in first out. Any articles may be editedfor space and content. Non-enrolleés adsare accepted after student ads. You mustinclude your name and contact information.

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Arlington Gem and Mineral Club(formerly Texas School of Earth Sciences)P.O. Box 986Arlington, TX 76004Newsletter is available on our Website atwww.agemclub.comADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

Annual Newsletter Rates 2007Printed & Mailed to your Home $18.00Printed & pickupat regular monthly meeting $1.00/mthNotification Newsletter on-line $6.00Download/Print at Home Free

the hound’s tale newsletter september 2007 volume 54 ...they are called “agie tators. ... as it...

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